Now all I have to do is make a new tank strap bolt because one was so rusted on that it snapped as I twisted even after 2 days of PB Blasterin'. I bought a 3/8-16 X 10" carriage bolt from Home Depot for a buck or two and I'm going to try to bend the head with a torch and vise. I might try to figure out how to use my hydraulic press to bend it. If I can't get the bend close enough to the head, I also bought some all-thread 3/8-16 x 12" that I can bend with more leverage, then cut, and use a jam nut as the head or just bend it to an actual J shape.
Ecomike:
WRT the use of ratchet straps, I used 2 roughly where the tank straps would go (vertical straps). The indentations for the metal tanks straps make good places to grip the ratchet straps. I had to move them around some though as you have to have the tank to the passenger side practically all the way to the tire in order for the hoses to clear. There a several places to attach hooks underneath the Jeep. The 3rd (horizontal) strap I merely wrapped around the passenger side of the tank (top or bottom of the seam, I did top the first install, bottom second. Both worked and I did whichever was convenient at the time) and attached the hooks to anywhere on the driver side.
The tricky part was getting the tank to sit diagonally with the hose ends right at the oval hole and the passenger side nearly at the tire and touching the ground. I had both vertical straps shifted to the passenger side a little so the tank would hang in that spot without having to be held in place (though the hoses can pretty much hold it but will be harder to move if you go that route).
At this point, I ratcheted the horizontal strap slowly until the hoses were contacting the unibody or penetrated the oval hole if you have it lined up perfectly. I didn't have it lined up perfectly, so I would ratchet once, jamming the hoses into the unibody, and use their flexibility to bend them up into the hole. You cannot just ratchet horizontally at this point. I had to incrementally ratchet horizontally, then fix the hose ends, repeat until the ends were all the way through the unibody's oval hole (otherwise the hoses will dig into the top wall of the hole). But once they are through, it should go smoothly the rest of the way horizontally, though it will still take some effort. But when you get the hose ends through the hole you want to start ratcheting the vertical straps as you ratchet the horizontal strap so the tank will get level instead of diagonal.
As you do this, the passenger side of the tank will have to clear the leaf springs, then the "frame rail" of the unibody. I did have to move my vertical straps once each during this process, so a 4th strap will come in handy (though I only used three. Once I got it pinched vertically to hold it in place, I used the horizontal strap in a new vertical position then pulled one of the vertical straps off and used it in a new position for the other side of the tank). At this point I put the 2nd placement of the vertical straps where metal tank straps would go, simply because the indentations of the tank make for good holding places for the straps. But you will have to move them to get the tank straps on.
Getting the filler neck off the first time was kind of a bitch. Wear gloves. i cut myself on the rusty cover without. Getting the filler and return hoses back on the neck is kind of a pain, but at least you can access the hose clamps on that end.
Alternatively, I was considering never disconnecting the filler neck and dropping the tank slightly until the tank side hose clamps were sort of accessible. I didn't realize this until the second time I had to drop it, but I was already comfortable with the other way. The issue is the tang on the filler neck that slides into a strap. But I think you could slide the hoses and neck all the way down to the hole in the unibody if you can get the tang out of the strap. That may provide enough room at the tank to get to the hose clamps.
I tried to use a floor jack earlier, but the straps proved handier due to needing to get the tank diagonal. I would drain the tank, though not totally necessary. I had about a quarter tank and I didn't drain it.
Was that clear enough? let me know if you have any more questions.